About this course
Join me for an engaging and entertaining deep dive into the ancient world! This course will follow three major themes, mythology and religion, ancient building techniques, and important historical figures. These topics will introduce students to a range of cultures and periods, while also introducing them to current debates and discussions of history in popular culture.
What you'll learn
By the end of this course, students will
- Be familiar with a range of religions and mythologies
- Be able to identify similarities and differences between ancient religions
- Understand the way religion and mythology reflects daily life
- Understand how complex construction took place with simple tools
- Understand how racism created the idea of “Ancient Alien” construction
- Be familiar with a number of important historical figures from around the world
- Be familiar with a range of important ancient buildings
- Understand how the available sources affect what we know about people
- Understand how ancient and modern bias affects how we see people today
Course Topics:
This course will follow three major themes, with a major hands-on component for each.
Theme (Hands-on Component)
- Mythology and Religion (Virtual Mythology Campfire!)
- Ancient Building Techniques (Art project every week)
- Historical Figures (Dress-Up Virtual Party)
At the end of the religion and mythology theme, students will choose a myth from anywhere in the world, and then at a special virtual campfire, we will build forts and then each student will tell their story.
During the construction and building theme, each week students will try their hand at building a model of some of the historical structures we discuss. This will require a variety of simple and easy to find materials.
At the end of the historical figures theme, students will dress up like their favourite historical figure, and then we will have a virtual party as our chosen person. This will require students to make a costume from things they find, and then prepare a snack/drink appropriate to the figure they have chosen.
Lesson #
Topic
- What will we learn
- What do you need
1
Intro
- Discussion of potential topics
- Introduction to historical sources and archaeology
- Historical bias
2
Egyptian Beliefs and Mythology
- What did Ancient Egyptians believe?
- How does the landscape of Egypt shape the beliefs of the Egyptians?
- What evidence do we have for their beliefs?
- Mummify an apple!
- Apple
- Knife and cutting board
- Salt
- Water
- 3 waterproof disposable containers
3
Ancient Greek Beliefs and Mythology
- What are some ancient Greek beliefs?
- How do the stories told by Ancient Greeks reflect the realities of their lives?
- Make a votive offering
- Playdough or clay
4
Ancient Mesopotamian Beliefs and Mythology
- What did Mesopotamians believe?
- Who were the Mesopotamian deities?
- How is the world of the Mesopotamians reflected in their stories?
5
Ancient Hindu beliefs and Mythology
- Who are the Hindu Deities?
- What do Hindus believe?
6
Mythology Campfire!
- Build a fort and tell stories around the campfire!
- Each student will choose and tell a story to everybody else
- Fort building materials!
- Your favourite myth!
- Props to tell your myth
7
Egyptian Construction
- How were the pyramids built?
- How was stone cut and transported?
- Aliens??
- Build your own pyramid! (Paper and sugar cube!)
- Paper
- Sugar cubes
- Glue
- Scissors
8
Bronze Age Europe Construction
- What is Bronze Age Europe?
- How was Stonehenge built?
- How were the stones transported?
- Build your own Stonehenge! (Rocks!)
- Rocks
- Glue gun
- Cardboard base
9
Easter Island and Nazca lines
- What is Easter Island?
- How were Moai built?
- What are the Nazca lines?
- How were the Nazca lines built?
- Make your own Nazca lines
- Sand
- White glue
- Stiff paper or cardboard
- Paintbrush
10
Great Zimbabwe and Great Wall of China
- What is Great Zimbabwe
- How was Great Zimbabwe built?
- What is the Great Wall of China?
- Build your own Great Wall models
- Print out
- Scissors
- Glue
- Sand
- Baking tray
11
Intro to Historical Figures Project
- Brief introduction to each choice of historical figure
- Choose historical figures by vote!
- Introduction to dinner party
- My favourite figures!
12
2-3 Historical figures of the student’s choice
- Historical context for each person of the week
- Short student presentation if appropriate
- Impact of each person
13
2-3 Historical figures of the student’s choice
- Historical context for each person of the week
- Short student presentation if appropriate
- Impact of each person
14
2-3 Historical figures of the student’s choice
- Historical context for each person of the week
- Short student presentation if appropriate
- Impact of each person
15
1-2 Historical figures of the student’s choice
Dinner party prep!
- Historical context for each person of the week
- Short student presentation if appropriate
- Impact of each person
16
Historical Figure Cocktail Party
- Dress up as your favourite figure and talk to your fellow historical figures
- Costume
- Props your person might use
- Snacks and a drink your person might eat/drink!
Materials & Homework
Cardboard, paper, glue, glue gun, sugar cubes, compass, a selection of rocks, sand (or potting soil), baking tray, apple, salt, 3 waterproof disposable containers, water, play dough or clay
Potential historical figures:
- Pharaoh Khufu
- Pharaoh Akhenaten
- Pharaoh Hatshepsut
- Pericles
- Julius Caesar
- Nebudchadnezzar
- Herodotus
- Muhammed
- Gautama Buddha
- Confucius
- Qin Shi Huang
- Genghis Khan
- Montezuma
- Leif Erikson
- King Henry VIII
- Queen Elisabeth
- Marie Antoinette
- Tipu Sultan
- Anybody else we want!
